MTSU alum's gift will leave lasting effect

11:33 PM,
May 15, 2013

While visiting MTSU in 1988, the late James M. Buchanan holds the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics and Science he was awarded in 1986 for his development of the contractural and constitutional bases for the theory of economic and political decision making. He is the only alumnus to be awarded a Nobel Prize.

Written by

Sidney A. McPhee

Middle Tennessee State University celebrated last week the remarkable life of one of our most distinguished alumni: Nobel laureate James Buchanan.

In remembering this renowned scholar and distinguished son of Rutherford County, who died in January, we accepted a $2.5 million estate gift he made to our Honors College.

He traveled the world and shaped economic policy, yet MTSU always felt like home to him. And I have no doubt it was this sense of home, and his lifelong connection to his alma mater, that helped influence this wonderful bequest. ...